Sequentially colored loopy yarn and method of knitting non-random discreet designs

ABSTRACT

A yarn includes a continuous strand formed with equally spaced equally dimensioned loops for knitting a multi-colored design in a knitted work formed of “p” courses or rows and “q” wales by sequentially pulling one loop in one row through a previously applied loop in an adjacent loop. The continuous strand is sequentially colored along its length with colors “Ci”, “C2” . . . “Cn” to correspond to the colors of the stitches of the design over said p courses and q wales. A method of producing a single strand of yarn formed with equally spaced equally dimensioned loops, segments or section includes creating a grid of “p” courses or rows and “q” columns or wales; mapping a non-random distinct design on the grid to be formed by stitches of one of n colors; translating the grid to color sequences in each row corresponding to the color stitches in successive rows in the grid; and coloring loops, segments or sections of the strand of loopy yarn with the color sequence represented by the successive rows of the grid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the art of knitting and, moreparticularly, to a sequentially loopy yarn and method of knittingnon-random discreet designs.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Continuous strands of yarn with substantially equally sized loopsuniformly spaced from each other along their length or “loopy” yarn havebeen used in different forms of knitting. When the loops aresufficiently large to manually insert one loop through another loop suchyarn has also been used for finger knitting. The physical constructionof the yarn, per se, and the method of finger knitting with such yarnare known and exemplified in:

-   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dyRIKZRDgw&t=18s    However, such loopy yarns have normally been made available either    in solid colors or intermixed colors that, when knitted, create    random multicolored stitches that do not form any discernible    non-random distinct designs.

Multicolored yarns are well known in the textile industry and are usedin the manufacturing of various randomly colored textile products orsimple geometric designs including stripes or plaids, such as woven,knit and tile fabrics. However, to create intricate non-random distinctdesigns in a knitted fabric or garment has been a challenge especiallyfor beginner and intermediate knitters. Thus, if a distinct non-randompattern, such as a “heart shape” was to be knitted into a garment onewould need to use two separate differently colored strands of yarn anduse them together in a complex procedure to create the design.

It is also known to crochet or knit color works by using speciallyprepared so-called “picture yarn”. These yarns are standard or simpleyarns that are colored by different colors along its length to providepredetermined color sequences so that a person using the yarn can createa knitted textile or work to simulate a desired pattern or design.However, these yarns have mostly been utilized to create geometricpatterns, such as plaids and repeating designs such as snowflakes, polkadots, etc. However, the use of so called “picture yarns” have thedisadvantage that different knitters apply different tensions to theyarn and this typically introduces irregularities in the designs thatare not symmetrical or aligned as intended. The user may need to tightenup or loosen up to work the repeating designs into place as intended.The following links illustrate how the yarn is colored along its length:

-   https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/color-pooling-in-crochet-4114940-   http://www.artisticyarnbyabi.com/picture-yarn-kits/

Colored yarns as above suggested have been used to create precisedesigns in machine knitting. However, machines have the ability and canbe set to knit with precise tensioning of the yarn so that the knittingcan be consistent and the patterns reproduced as desired. However, forhand knitting individuals tend to tension the yarn differently and notconsistently as this varies from person to person. Thus, using a methodof varying dye colors on different lengths of a typical yarn would notnormally work since the patterns would not be consistent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to enable knittingwith on continuous loopy yarn to create non-random or discreet designsindependently of the tension applied by a user.

It is another object of the invention to provide a loopy yarn as in theprevious object that is simple in construction and inexpensive toproduce.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a loopy yarn asin the previous objects that allows a user to create intricatenon-random discreet designs in a knitted work or textile fabriceconomically and conveniently.

It is still yet another object of the invention to provide a loopy yarnas aforementioned that can be used to produce consistent accurate andprecise designs independently of the person performing the knitting.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of knittingnon-random discreet designs using loopy yarn of the type previouslysuggested.

A yarn in accordance with the present invention comprises a continuousstrand formed with equally spaced equally dimensioned loops for knittinga multi-colored non-random discreet design formed of “n” colors in aknitted work formed of “p” courses or rows and “q” wales by sequentiallypulling one loop in one row through a previously applied loop in anadjacent row. The continuous strand is sequentially colored along itslength with colors C₁, C₂ . . . C_(n) to correspond to the colors of thestitches in the desired design over said p courses and q wales.

The invention also covers the method of coloring the single continuousstrand of loopy yarn over its length and the knitted article or workformed by using the yarn.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a section or patch of a knitted work or fabricutilizing a single continuous loopy multi-colored yarn after it has beenknitted to create a non-random distinct or discreet design;

FIG. 2a represents the rows or courses in the knit fabric shown in FIG.1, illustrating the sequence of colors in each row to create thenon-random discreet or distinct design shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b illustrates the stitches in each of the rows corresponding tothe table shown in FIG. 2a to create the non-random distinct designcorresponding to the design shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a section of the continuous loopy yarn to create, forexample, row 5 of the design shown in FIG. 1 comprising of 5 pink (“P”)loops and the remaining loops being white (“W”); and

FIG. 4 illustrates the method of finger knitting utilizing the loopyyarn in accordance with the invention sequentially inserting loops froma subsequent row through the loops of a previous row.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the figures, in which the identical or similar partswill be designated by the same reference numerals throughout, and firstreferring to FIG. 1, a knitted article or fabric is generally designatedby the reference numeral 10. The article 10 is knitted using the uniqueyarn in accordance with the present invention, as to be more fullydescribed below.

The knitted article 10 is created by a plurality of knit stitches 12, ineach row or course extending from one lateral side to the opposinglateral side, as viewed in FIG. 1. A plurality of columns or wales 14from the top of the article 10 to the opposing side or the bottom. Animportant feature of the invention is that in the Article 10 is formedof loopy yarn dyed with at least two colors. In FIG. 1 a first color C₁is designated as color 16 and another color C₂ is designated as color18. An important feature of the invention is that the non-randomdiscreet design is formed by knitting a single continuous loopy yarnthat is subsequentially colored or dyed with a predetermined colorsequence. The Article can be finished in any conventional manner such aswith bindoffs or trails 22 a and 22 b. To assist a user to know when tocommence knitting following the formation of the initial bindoff ortrail 22 a different approaches can be used. For example, referring toFIG. 2b , the first five loops or segments of the yarn can be made of acolor different from the colors used to create the distinct design overthe 18 rows and 21 columns forming a rectangular surface area. Also, atag of any type can be used between the loops or segments in row 1, tothe right extending beyond the rectangular area containing the distinctdesign or between loops or segments 5 and 6. Similar markings (differentcolors or tags) can be used at the end of the yarn to inform the userthat the end of the design has been reached and to use the remainingloops or segments to create bindoff or trail.

Referring to FIG. 2a , a table is shown illustrating the sequence ofcolors in each of the rows 1-18. With the exception of rows 1 and 18,each row has 21 loops, segments or sections made up of an equal numberof stitches in the work shown in FIG. 1. Rows 1 and 18 have 26 loops,segments or sections.

In the example shown the design is a non-random distinct design 20,shown in the form of a heart. In the example, the knitted work 10 isessentially a rectangular section made up of one background color 16with the non-random distinct heart shape design 20 being in a secondcolor 18. The color 16 in FIGS. 2a and 2b is shown as being white (W)and the color 18 is shown as being pink (P). The non-random distinctdesign is formed from one length of loopy yarn so that, when knitted, asone would normally knit a “solid” color of yarn, the pattern or design20 will be created automatically without the need of special knittingskills and substantially independently of the tension applied by theuser.

If a user wanted to hand knit the same non-random distinct design, notjust a basic color stripe or plaid, but a heart shape, as shown, or asmiley face or logo it would require the knitter to have advanced skillsto be able to work with two separate strands of yarn. The Table in FIG.2a represents the sequencing of colors of successive loops, segments orsections between loops can be used as instructions for coloring ordyeing the continuous length or strand of yarn. FIG. 2b illustrates thedesired resulting pattern formed by knitting the colored loopy yarn inaccordance with FIG. 2 a.

It will be appreciated that while the illustrated example shows anon-random distinct design formed by two colors more complicated orintriquite designs can be formed by using two or more colors C₁, C₂ . .. C_(n). The continuous strand of loopy yarn only need to be dyed withthe sequence of colors that are to be included in the final design.

Referring to FIG. 3, a section of colored yarn is shown, for example,row 5 in FIGS. 2a and 2b , that include 5 loops, segments or sectionsthat are colored in pink (“P”) while the remaining loops, segments orsections are colored white (“W”). FIG. 4 illustrates how the yarn can befinger knitted by successively passing loops in one row through theassociated loops in a previous row. What is unique and critical is themanner in which the continuous strand of loopy yarn is in a coloredpredetermined sequence to create non-random, distinct or unique designsor patterns other than stripes and plaids. The Table shown in FIG. 2a ,therefore, is exemplary of information that can be communicated to amanufacture of yarn for coloring or dying the yarn. The exact lengths ofthe loops, segments or sections are not critical although they need tobe small enough so that there are no holes in the end product. The Tablecan convey to a manufacturer what color each specific loop needs to be.

An important feature of the present invention is that the method andcreated design(s) are totally independent of the tension applied by auser. This is because the loops are “pre-formed” in the yarn and size ofthe loops and the size of each stitch is essentially fixed. In “normalknifing” the size of the loops are a function of the knitting needlesand how big each loop is and how much yarn is taken up in each loop issubject to the user's individual or personal tension applied during theknitting process.

The yarn of the invention and the method of knitting with it to createnon-random and distinct designs in the descried example uses fingerknitting. While the yarn can be knitted with fingers, as done shown,this concept can also be used even if the size of the loops is maderelatively smaller and typically knit with hooks instead of fingers. Bymaking the loops smaller this would enable even more complex designs tobe created with greater “resolution” and would make it possible to usedifferent materials that would not need to be as puffy to fill the largeholes.

While the yarn in accordance with the invention is formed by acontinuous strand of yarn colored as described, it is also possible tojoin different color sections of yarn by splicing them or tying them endto end to create the desired sequence to create the desired colorsequences. Ideally, the yarn is colored by printing along its length ona roll or printer so that sections of yarn need not be physically joinedto each other but, rather, just printed on a continuous strand of yarn.

To create the yarn, a designer can make a grid as shown in FIG. 2b ,akin to filling the squares on a grid with colors, and using the grid todescribe and define the pattern as shown in FIG. 2a by simply defining,for each row, the color(s) of the individual stitches required to formthe design and translating that information into a Table as shown inFIG. 1 a.

Using the above invention one can create designs in a garment. The usercan, therefore, knit intricate non-random distinct designs withoutrelying on machines that control precise tensioning knitting. Withoutthe yarn and method of the invention, the resulting designs would not beconsistent and vary from person to person. The method of the presentinvention, of using “loop yarn” allows users to consistently andaccurately create precise designs because the loop size is fixed andthat makes individual tension a “non-issue”. Users can effectuate themethod using finger knitting while producing machine precision quality.

It will also be appreciated that the method of the present invention canbe scaled up or down to form, for example, a giant blanket, or a smallscarf or a pull-up cover/blanket which is what is shown in FIG. 1.However, whatever is made must be predetermined in the printing of theyarn so that the skein can only make a square or other shape. However,the pattern can be redesigned to form a grid for a scarf and have heartsor any icon or distinct non-random distinct design(s) appear as thescarf is knit but this would require a different grid. Once the designand the size is mapped as suggested in FIG. 2b to show the colors of theindividual stitches this information can be utilized to produce theinstructions for coloring the yarn as shown in FIG. 2a . Using theresulting single continuous loopy yarn will automatically produce anon-random distinct design such as the one shown in FIG. 1. The presentinvention, therefore, is for a method of knitting the color sequences ofa continuous loopy strand of yarn to produce a desired non-randomdistinct design by coloring or dyeing the yarn in accordance withinstructions derived from grid of colored stitches. Two or more colorscan be used.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed:
 1. A yarn comprising a continuous strand formed withequally spaced equally dimensioned loops for knitting a multi-colorednon-random discreet design formed of n colors in a knitted work formedof “p” courses or rows and “q” wales by sequentially pulling one loopthrough a previously applied loop to form a stitch, said continuousstrand being sequentially colored along its length with colors “C₁”,“C₂” . . . “C_(n)” to correspond to the colors of the stitches over saidp courses and q wales.
 2. A yarn as defined in claim 1, wherein n=2. 3.A yarn as defined in claim 1, further comprising additional loops at thebeginning and end of the yarn, beyond those required to form saidstitches over said “p” courses and “q” wales, for forming bindoffs ortrails at the beginning and the end of a knitted work incorporating anon-random discreet design.
 4. A yarn as defined in claim 3, wherein atleast two additional loops are provided.
 5. A yarn as defined in claim3, further comprising indicating means for demarcating said additionalloops from said loops for creating said stitches over said “p” courseand “q” wales.
 6. A yarn as defined in claim 5, wherein said indicatingmeans is a color for said additional loops different from said colors“C₁”, “C₂” . . . “C_(n)”.
 7. A yarn as defined in claim 5, wherein saidindicating means comprises a physical marker or tag separating saidadditional loops from remaining loops on said yarn.
 8. A knitted articleor work knitted of a single strand of yarn formed with equally spacedequally dimensioned loops, wherein the yarn is sequentially coloredbetween adjacent loops to form, in a finished knitted work, at least atwo color non-random discreet design.
 9. A method of producing a singlestrand of yarn formed with equally spaced equally dimensioned loops,segments or section comprising the steps of creating a grid of “p”courses or rows and “q” columns or wales; mapping a non-random distinctdesign on said grid to be formed by stitches of one of n colors;translating said grid to color sequences in each row corresponding tothe color stitches in successive rows in said grid; and coloring loops,segments or sections of the strand of loopy yarn with said colorsequence represented in successive rows of the grid.
 10. A method orproducing a single strand of yarn as defined in claim 9, wherein n=2.11. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising additional loopsat the beginning and end of the yarn, beyond those required to form saidstitches over said “p” courses and “q” wales, for forming bindoffs ortrails at the beginning and the end of a knitted work incorporating anon-random discreet design.
 12. A method as defined in claim 9, whereinat least two additional loops are provided.
 13. A method as defined inclaim 9, further comprising indicating means for demarcating saidadditional loops from said loops for creating said stitches over said“p” course and “q” wales.
 14. A method as defined in claim 9, whereinsaid indicating means is a color for said additional loops differentfrom said colors “C₁”, “C₂” . . . “C_(n)”.
 15. A method as defined inclaim 9, wherein said indicating means comprises a physical marker ortag separating said additional loops from remaining loops on said yarn.